Quote:
Originally Posted by queetz@home
No, Vancouver is not a tech hub. Any software company that you see here is either based somewhere else, or so small and insignificant in numbers and operations to make much of a difference. For example, if Microsoft packs up its Vancouver office tomorrow, it won't really impact anything within that company.
I dunno why Vancouver wants to claim to be a tech hub. Its been doing that since the late 90s, especially with its "Tech BC" project near Science World which we all know never took off as intended. Whatever developments that did come there is so not fueld by high tech. The sexiness has been gone since the tech bust of 2000 and when people think tech jobs, they think outsource to India (namely Bangalore).
As for tech hubs in Canada, Ottawa for sure, Kitchener / Waterloo / Brampton, yes. But one thing forgotten is Montreal, which is actually very big in computer gaming, thanks in large part to Ubisoft but also lots of smaller but numerous studios. Vancouver only has EA as a major player due to the FIFA game (hence why it has a huge profile), but that company also has major operations in Montreal and Edmonton (through EA subsidiary Bioware). Montreal is fast becoming the next Austin, Texas, which is a major computer gaming development centre in the US.
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Right lets just ignore all the incubators in the city. Lets ignore Hootsuite, now employing 400 people and looking to hire more. Lets ignore all the talent and venture capital that's made its way out here. Walk through Gastown and I"ll show you where tech really lives in this country. It's the attitude and skillset here that has changed since the 90's where we relied on gaming. Not anymore.
You say don't mention microsoft and then throw out EA, which is based out of Redmond California, I believe, same with Ubisoft, not Montreal based. So if you wanna include that then Microsoft is planning to expand here, gaming and more. Gears of Wars will be made in Vancouver. Last I heard Amazon is planning to hire hundreds more in the city. EA makes FIFA but also makes NHL here, has been since the inception of the company. They also make a load more games here too, not just FIFA.
The VFX industry in Vancouver is booming, Sony just relocated their head office to Vancouver.
Then there are companies like Mobify, A thinking Ape, Invoke etc... all startups that are well funded. Not looking to sell out.
It's the combination of workers, companies, VC's, incubators, and mindset that have make Vancouver a legit tech hub.